sourdough

noun

sour·​dough ˈsau̇(-ə)r-ˌdō How to pronounce sourdough (audio)
 sense 1 is also  -ˈdō
1
: a leaven consisting of dough in which fermentation is active
2
[from the use of sourdough for making bread in prospectors' camps] : a veteran inhabitant and especially an old-time prospector of Alaska or northwestern Canada

Examples of sourdough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The chef, Travis Lett, was obsessive about nearly everything—produce, sourcing, seasonality, herbs, spices, the chewiness of a hunk of sourdough or a pizza crust—and this obsessiveness resulted in a restaurant that was more or less flawless. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025 So whatever self-care looks like for you, whether that is reading romantic novels or baking sourdough, or, like me, starting piano lessons again after a 35-year hiatus. Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025 The kitchen there will turn out pastas like the ones that garnered Dio Mio recommendations from the Michelin Guide in recent years, as well as sourdough pizzas that can be eaten in house or to go. Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2025 The perfect pasta twirl, the soft collapse of cake, the crunch when cutting into a loaf of sourdough—these are the moments when the best silverware sets really earns its place at the table. Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sourdough

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sourdough was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Sourdough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sourdough. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

sourdough

noun
sour·​dough ˈsau̇(ə)r-ˌdō How to pronounce sourdough (audio)
1
: a dough in which fermentation is active and which is used to start fermentation in other dough (as in making bread)
2
: an old-time prospector in Alaska or northwestern Canada
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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